Means for keeping switch and signal apparatus free from snow and ice.



PATENTED NOV. 5, 1907. P. G. SHAW.

AND SIGNAL APPARATUS FREE FROM SNOW AND ICE. APPLICATION FILED APB.29, 1901.

MEANS FOR KEEPING SWITCH Irwewr.

No 869,987. PATENTED NOV. 5. 1907. P. G. SHAW.

AND SIGNAL APPARATUS FREE FROM SNOW AND ICE. APPLIOATION FILED Ammo, 1907.

MEANS FOR KEEPING SWITCH 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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THE NURR/s PETERS co., wasumcmu, u. c,

UNITED sragzs PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS G. SHAW, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR-TO THE INTERNATIONAL SWITCH & SIGNAL COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

MEANS FOR KEEPING SWITCH AND SIGNAL APPARATUS FREE FROM SNOW AND ICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 5, 1907.

Application filed April 291 1907- Serial No. 3 0| To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Fnaxcrs G. SI-IA\V, a citizen of the United States, residing in Boston, county of Suffolk, and State .of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Means for Keeping Switch and Signal Apparatus Free from Snow and Ice, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like letters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to a device for keeping railway switches free from snow and ice and has for its object to improve the structure shown in my Patent No. 834,327, dated October 30, 1906, and in my copending application Se. No. 342,467, filed November 8, 1906. In the structures shown in said patent and application chambers are formed beneath the rails of the switch in which heat is generated, and these chambers are closedat all points except immediately adja cent the movable rails of the switch. These chambers are formed by covers which rest on the ties and span the space between them. While this manner of forming the chambers is effective so far as directing the heat to the vulnerable parts of the switch is concerned yet it has the disadvantage that unless the ties are spaced uniformly the sheet metal sections or covers have to be especially made to fit the spaces between the ties.

In my present invention I have devised a novel form of cover or burner chamber which is not support ed by the ties but is ada'pted to rest on the ground, and which is of such a shape that it can be used equally well between any two adjacent ties whether they are close together or spaced considerably apart.

My invention further has for its object to provide a novel form of hood or deflector to be placed directly over the gas burner, all as will be more fully hereinafter described and then pointed out in the claims.

I will first describe briefly one embodiment of my invention and then point out the novel features thereof in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a cross section taken through a switch having my improvements applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a section on the line rc-x, Fig. 1', Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the chamber construction to be located between one pair of adjacent ties.

In the drawings, 3 and 4 represent the usual main rails of a track and 5 and 6 the movable switch rails. These rails are supported on ties 7 as usual. Instead of supporting the sheet metal covers forming the burner chambers on the ties as in my patent and application, I make burner chambers which can be placed between the ties and which rest on the ground. The casings or covers forming the burner chambers are preferably the right Fig. 2.

made in sections which are separated from each other slightly directed beneath the vulnerable parts of the switch, there being as many sections as necessary to extend beneath all the rails of the switch or other ap paratus. In a single switch such as shown in Fig.1 where there are only two movable switch trails I pro.- pose to make the casing or cover forming the chamber between each two adjacent ties in three sections, one situated outside each main rail,' and the other situated between the slip or movable rails. These sections may be made in any suitable shape in cross section but I prefer to make them either approximately V-shaped or approximately (I-shaped. In Fig. 3 I have shown in perspective three sections adapted to be used between any two ties of a simple switch, as shown in Fig. 1. Each section is preferably made of sheet metal which is bent to give the section substantially a V- shape in cross section, and said sections are of a width to be received between the ties.

The section between the two rails 3 and 4 is desig- A nated by 8 and those at the outside of the main rails by 12. Each section has the two sides 9,the edges of which are preferably bent inwardly, as at 10, to form feet that rest on the ground. The width of the sections is such that they may be readily received between any two adjacent ties 7-. The central section 8 preferably extends from one of the movable switch rails to the other and at each end it is provided with the end piece 11 which extends upwardly to approximately the level of the top of the ties and which is as long as the chamber section is wide. The end sections 12 are also preferably of the same V-shape and the inner end ofeach is open and is provided with the end piece 14 similar in all respects to the end piece 11. Situated within each section is a deflecting member 140 which can conveniently be made of sheet metal. This deflecting member is arranged directly over the burner pipe 16 which extends through the heating chamber and is for the purpose of preventing the top of the heating chamber from getting too hot and aiding to distribute the heat throughout the heating chamber. Moreover this deflecting member forms beneath it a small space which becomes filled with gas when the gas is turned on, so that when the burner tube is lighted at one end the flame will flash the length thereof thus igniting the pipe for its entire length. The deflecting member can be held in place in any suitable way, and in- Fig, 2, I have shown two ways in which this may be done. One way is to rivet the edges of the deflecting member to the sides 9 of the cover sections, as at 15', and another way is to extend the edges of said deflecting member down to engage the feet 10, as shown at The burner pipe 16 which may have any suitable or usual construction is shown as supported by suitable hangers 17 which preferably are supported by the deflecting member 140. The deflecting member 140 carried by or associated with the central section 8 is slightly longer than said section and extends beyond the end thereof, as best seen in Figs. 1 and 3. l

The end section 12 which is at the outer end of the end sections 12 may be closed in any suitable way. It

is most convenient to close them by means of a board or other strip 30 which is secured along the ends of the ties. This construction avoids the necessity of bending the metal from which the chamber sections are formed into proper shape to close the end.

The chamber sections made according to this invention can readily be manufactured in the shop and of a standard size adapted to be received between ties which are situated rather closely together, and -it is not necessary to make each chamber section to fit any particular space between adjacent ties. This facilitates greatly the equipment of a switch yard with my improvements.

.In order to hold the chamber sections in proper shape and prevent them from spreading at the bottom in case they should be accidentally stepped on, I prefer to use the tie members 20 one or more for each section which span the lower edges of the chamber sections. These tie members can be conveniently made with upturned lips 21 which embrace the lower edges of the chamber sections and thus hold them from spreading.

23 designates the gas supply pipe leading lrom the main and provided with the cook or valve 24. This is connected to an air mixer 25 and the latter is connected to the burner pipe 16 by a flexible connection 26. The object of this flexible connection is to permit any shifting of the burner pipe 16 due to heaving of the ground or other causes without danger of opening the joints of the pipe sufficiently to cause leakage of the gas.

In operation the hot gases generated by the burner beneath the deflecting member 140, find their way around the same at the spaces between the chamber sections, which spaces are located directly beneath the vulnerable parts of the switch. Therefore, the only space where the hot gases can escape is at the places where it is desired to keep the switches free from snow and ice. Further the deflecting member 140 be ing bent upwardly at the center, as shown, assists materially in lighting the burner 16 ior its full length and in keeping it lighted, for when the as is turned on it will accumulate under the member 140 so that when one end of the burner is lighted the lire will follow along the burner tube and completely light it.

Although I have herein shown some embodiments of my invention I do not Wish to be limited thereto.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a device for preventing switches from becoming frozen. a casing constituting a heating chamber extending beneath the rails between the ties and supported independently of the ties, and heat-generating means within the cl1amber.

2. In a device for preventing switches from becoming frozen, a casing constituting a heating chamber extending; beneath the rails between the ties and supported independently of the ties, and heat-generating means within the chamber, said chamber having openings adjacent to the movable parts of the switch.

3. ln apparatus of the class described, the combination with a heating chamber made in sections and arranged to be placed beneath the rails of a switch between the ties and to be supported independently of the ties, of means within the chamber for generating heat, the sections of the chamber being separated to allow the heat to'escape.

4. In an apparatus of the class described the combination with a casing open at its bottom and adapted to rest on the ground between the ties of a railroad track, of heahgeuerating means within the casing.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a casing V-shaped in cross section and adapted to be received between the ties of a railroad track, of heat-generating means within the casing.

(i. In an apparatus of the class'described, the combina tion with a sectional casing substantially V-shape in cross section and adapted to be received between the tics of a railroad track, of heat-generating means within the casing.

T. In a device of the class described, the combination with chamber sections each substantially V-shape in cross section and adapted to be received between the ties of a railroad track, of heat-generating means within the casing.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANCIS G. SHAlV.

Witnesses Louis C. SMITH, MAncAnu'r A. DUNN. 

